Switch rod connection to switch point



June 20, 1950 s. ARNOLD El AL 2,512,131v

SWITCH ROD CONNECTION T0 swnca POINT Filed Oct. 2, 1544 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. 6.60/26: en 040 3 BY/ AeeY A Sam/1.72 (1 f/omqeo ff Pei/V7765U W W 2 11 f5 /47' TOE/YE Y5 June 20, 1950 G. ARNOLD ET AL SWITCH RODCONNECTION TO SWITCH POINT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1944 5 s Z Ymwg m A a 1 68.2 W; m ra W June 20, 1950 e. ARNOLD ET AL 2,512,131

' SWITCH ROD CONNECTION TO SWITCH POINT Filed Oct. 2, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet s I I INVENTOR. 650865 Aer/ow 8 Hon/Hep I? Pee/777:5

Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,512,131 SWITCH RODCONNECTION T SWITCH George Arnold, Shaker Heights, Harry A. Schultz,

Garfield Heights, and Howard I. Prentice poration of Ohio ApplicationOctober 2, 1944,Serial No. 556,748

:7 Claims. (01. zsi 'z'olsl This invention relates to railway switchesand more particularly to improved and novel switch clips or lugs forconnecting the switch rods to the switch points thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide in a railway switch improvedand novel switch clips or lugs for connecting the switch rods to theswitch points and which clips or lugs may be in theiorm of a one-piececasting or forging if desired and do not include pivot pin and socketconnections or other parts which may be'subject to excessive wear ordamaged or broken readily in use; said clips or lugs being so designedthat they can take different angular positions relative to the switchpoints to which they are secured during the throwing of the switchwithout the creation of high stresses in the parts but are held at alltimes in tight engaging contact with said switch points.

Another important object is to provid in a railway switch improved andnovel switch clips or lugs for connecting the switch rods to the switchpoints in such manner that wear of the parts is reduced to a minimum,

Another object is to provide a railway switch wherein the switch pointscan be thrown easily, positively and with a'minimuin strain andwe'ar onthe parts.

An" additional object is to provide improved and novel switch clips orlugs for connecting switch rods to the switch points of railway switchesin a Way to lengthen the life of the switch installations by eliminatingor reducing the incidence of breakage or of damage to the parts throughbending, shearing or the like and especially by obviating the use in theclips or lugs of swivel pin and socket connections.

A further and general object is to provide for railway switches, switchclips or lugs of the chara'cter hereinbefore referred to and which clipsor lugs are Of relatively simple design, can be eco-' nomicallymanufactured, are reversible for either right or left hand application,can be installed with facility and dispatch and after installation aresusceptible of ready adjustment and maintenance.

Further and additional objects of the invention and other advantages tobe derived therefrom will become apparent during the detaileddescriptions of several illustrativ embodiments thereof which are tofollow.

Referring to th accompanying drawings illustrating said embodiments,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of railway switch to which theinvention may be applied and shows one construction of-swltc'h clipscringe embodying the invention and utilized for connecting the switchrods to the switch points. a 2 is a-viewtalien on line 22 of Fi '1looking in the direction of the arrows and is partlyi'n section andpartly in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to the left hand ortionof Fig. 2, on a larger scale than either Fig; '1 or Fig.2. Fig. '4 is afragmentary top plan view of Fig. '3 withcertain portions broken awayand shown'ln section. v

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary jelevationalana sectional view with thesection taken; on lines 5-5 or Fi'gs. 1 and 4 looking intli'e directionof the arrows.

Fig. 6 is avlew similar to Fig. spilt showing for further illustrativepurposes a different eiiibodi' ment of the invention than is depicted inthe previous views. j

Fig. '1 is a view partly in top plan of Fig. *6 and partlsrinsection. 1p Fig; 8' is a view partly in section and partly in sid elevation andtaken approximately online -88 of Fig. i lokiiig in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustratingthe rocking movements or theswitch cli s or Rigs of the invention and the relationship of the partswhen the switch is thrown. Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of thelower portion of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6-8, and

Fig. 11 is a detached inverted perspective view of the upper portion ofthe embodiment or the invention illustrated in Figs. 6-8.

The invention contemplates the use of switch clips or lugs which may bein the formof a onepiece casting or forging and which do not iiieludepivot pin and socket connections or other parts such as heretofore usedin switch clip con nections and which are subject to wear or which maybe readily damaged. The switch clips or lugs embodying the presentinvention are pro= vided with a curved or other siirface which bearsagainst" the switchpoint and enables the clips'oi lugs to take difieientangular positions relative to the switchpoints.

The invention further contemplates the ilse of horizontal bolts spacedlongitudinally of the clips or lugs andtheswitch points andutilizingspiing means or some equivalent resilient means to hold suchcurved or other surface of the clips or lugs firmly in contact with theswitch points at all times; The clips or lugs in taking their differentangular positlonsrelativc to the switch points will tions between theswitch points and the clips or,

lugs or between the latter and the switch rods and thus a constructionis provided that does not have elements which are subject to excessivewea'r Y i or are likely to be sheared ordamaged during 1 use. t 1

In order to make the invention more apparent to those skilled in the arttwo of the various forms of construction which may embody the inventionwill be described in detail.

extending transversely thereof and an intermediate portion 22 arrangedin the same vertical plane as the connecting portion and merging withthe contacting portion centrally of the ends thereof. t I

lt'will b'e'noted that the construction of the switch clip or lug issuch that the thrust of the switch rod or tie bar is applied to theswitch point relatively high up on the latter. This arrangement isimportant in view of the wide use of high rails. In switch installationswhere the rails are relatively high as, for example, six, seven or eightinches in height, there is a tendency for the switch points to roll overunless the thrust of Referring particularly to Fig. '1, there is shown'6 one type of railway switch equipped with de-- vices embodying theinvention but it will be understood 'thatother types. of .swit.ches alsomight be soequipped.,.The type of switch construction described hereinas an: example includes the stock or main rails i and] Land the movableswitch points [2 and 13 which. cooperate with said rails respectivelydepending upon the thrown position of the switch. The rails aresupported bythe usual ties; I4 and preferablywill bear upon tie plates.The stock or main rails l0 and i] are shown as of standard T section.while the switch points l2 and 13 may beof standard T section suitablyplaned and shaped to cooperate with the main rails. Eachpoint isprovided with reenforcing bars I 5 and 16 secured thereto by suitablemeans, with:the bars Lion the, sides of the switch points adjacent;tothe main or stock rails while thebars I6 are located-on the innersides of the points.

The switch points i2 and i 3 are connected by switch rods I i and 18,with zthe latter rod shown extended beyond the rail II, as indicated at[8a and operatively. connected to an element 19 of the switch throwingmechanism. Although two switch rods have been shown it-will beunderstood that in some installations a different number -of'rods may beemployed. The rods maybe formed-in one piece or they may be-formed ofsections joined by an-insulating connection as shown herein. The rodsmay be formed of flat bar-steel and disposed either horizontally orvertically, the latter disposition of the-rods being indicated herein asit isdeemed preferable, al-

though it does not form y'part of the present invention. H .v

The switch construction heretofore described is well understood by thoseskilled in' the art and its construction and mode of operation neednotbe explained in-greater-detail.

---The switch clips or lugs will be described now, it being understoodthat the lugs which are connected to the switch points i 2 and i3 areidentical and that therefore cnlyjone clip or castings or forgingsandthose shown in Figs. 1

to 5 inclusive comprise a vertically disposed connecting portion 20which straddles the switch rod, a switch point contacting portion 21located at-a higher level than the connecting portion and .the switchrods or tie bars is applied to the switch points at a relatively highlocation. The present construction adequately, takes care of thistendency of the switch points to roll over since the thrust of the tiebar or switch rod is applied through the switch clip or lug well towardthe top of the switch points. i

The connecting portion 20, as already stated, straddles the switch rodor tie bar ill or II, as, the case may be, and since the wide dimensionof;

said rods or bars is vertically disposed in this instance the saidconnecting portion 20 is also vertically disposed, it being understoodthat when the clip or lug is connected to a switch rod or tie bar thewide dimension of which is horizontally disposed, then the portion 20will be arranged so as to straddle such horizontally disposed rod orbar.

The connecting portion 20 is provided with spaced pairs of openingsthrough the arms of the 1 portion with the openings in one arm aligningopenings through the switch rod or tie bar and bolts 23 extend throughsaid openings in the w arms of the portion 20 and the rod and secure theclips to the rods. The bolts 23 are provided with heads 24 locatedbetween outstanding ribs 25 formed on the arms of the connecting portion20. Nuts 26 are screwed upon the bolts 23 and said nuts also are locatedintermediate theribs 25. Suitable cotter pins 21 extend through thebolts 23 and hold the nuts 26 in place. The ribs 25 prevent the boltsfrom turning in the openings while lock washers 26a mounted on the boltsbetween the nuts 26 and the portion 20 bring the nuts out far enough toclear the ribs 25. This arrangement permits of putting the bolts in fromeither side, as may be most convenient on account of clearanceconditions.

hasone face engaging the outer planar side of the reenforcing bar thatis secured to the switch point. The face of the contacting portion 2!which engages the reenforcing bar may be straight or otherwise shaped,but preferably that part of the face that is in contact with the bar iscurved on an arc of large radius as indicated at 28, wherefore relativerocking movement can occur-between the portion 2! of the clip or lug andthe reenforcing bar. adjacent each of its ends and on opposite sides ofthe intermediate portion 22 with openings 29 that align with openings inthe reenforcing bars l5 and i6 and the switch point l2. Headed bolts onthe innerside of the reenforcing bar 15. Flanged spacer sleeves 32 aremounted on the bolts 30 outwardly of the portion 2| of the clip aor lugandcoil-springs 33 surround said sleeves,

The contacting portion 2| of the clip or lug The portion 2i is provided.

30 pass through these-aligned openings with the-- heads 3! of said boltslocated in recesses formedand-have one end abutting the-flange of thesleeve and the opposite-end-abutting against'the outer side of theportion 2! of the clips orlugs. Securing nuts 35 are mounted on thebolts and held in place by cotter pins 36 passing through the bolts. Thesprings 33 act to hold the contacting portion 2| in tight operative orcontacting relationshipwith the-planar-outer side ot the reenforcing bar16, thus obviating looseness-zbetween the contacting surfaces of thereenforeing bar and of the clip or lug thereby re- .ducing to a-minimumwear on such surfaces. The action of the springs 33 can beadjusted bytighteningor loosening the nuts as will be clearly understood. Thesleeves 32 are provided as a safety measure in-case the springs 33should break; .The sleeves -32 are so sized ashto allow only about to ofan inch looseness in the bolts 30 in the absence of the springs 33. Whenthe switch point is in closed position the bolts llactually perform verylittle function as the'clip or lug is pressed directly againgst the-reenforcing bar through the. action of the force applied towthe tiebar. However, when the switch point isopened these bolts perform thefunction-of pulling the switch point to open position and if the sleeveswere not provided and the springs 33 should become broken the switchpoint would lag behind until the portion '2! engaged the nuts 35.Although coil springs 33 are shown herein as actmg to maintain the clipsor lugs tightly against the reenforcing bars of the switch points, itwill be understood that other forms of spring or resilient means mightbe employed for this purpose as, for example, rubber blocks might bemounted on the bolts 30 and interposed between the'contacting portion 21and the nuts 35.

TIt will be understood that when the switch points are thrown from oneoperative position to the other operative position the clips or lugs canmove or rock or roll relatively to the switch points, that .is, theclips or lugs-can assume diiierent angularpositions relative to thepoints, such movement being permitted by the compression or expansion ofthe springs 3.3 :or of such equivalent resilient means as may be used inplace of the springs. I

It will further be understood that inasmuch as the surfa'ce 28 of theportion 2! of the clips or lugs is rounded as indicated that said clipsor lugs will have a smooth, rolling or rocking movement relative to theswitch points and consequently the throwing of the switch points fromone operative position to the other operative position will befacilitated and the setting up of stresses in the switch rods will bereduced to a minimum.

In Fig. 9 the rocking movements of the clips or lugs relative to theswitch points are diagrammatically indicated and it will be noted thatany tendency of the switch rods to bend is substantially eliminated.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 wherein a modified form of switch clip orlug embodying the invention is disclosed, it will be seen that theswitch rods or tie bars I 8 are connected to the clips or lugs by meansof a connecting portion 3! which is similar to the connecting portion 20of the previously described formor embodiment of connecting clip or lug.In describing the connecting clip or lug of the present modified formthe different parts of the switcnpoint and the main rails thereof willbe given the same reference characters as in the first described form.Integral with the connecting portion 31 the modifled clip or lug isprovided with an upwardly and then horizontally extending portion 38,the outer end surface of which portion contacts the reenforcing bar Hi.This outer end surface of the portion 38 is preferably-curved asindicated at, see Fig. 10. The portion 38 is provided with an inwardlyfacing spring housing recess 40 in which recess is mounted a coil spring4! extending out- Wardly of the recess and overlying the portion 31 ofthe clip or lug. A securing or connecting member is included in thismodified clip or lug construction and said member, illustrated per se ininverted position in Fig. 11, is provided with a housing portion 42which embraces or fits upon the portion 38 and acts as a housing for theextended end oithe spring is which abuts against theinner side of therear wall of said housing portion 42. The securing or connecting memberalso has a flange portion 43 which on opposite sides of the housingportion is provided with openings that align with openings in the reenforcing bar and the switch point and through which the headed bolts 38can pass. Suitable nuts Ha -and cotter pins 36 are mounted on theboltsBt preferably with spring lock washers intor-posed between saidnuts and the flange portion 4.3. It will be seen that the spring 4! actsto maintain the surface 39 of the portion 38 in close contact with thereenforcing bar it and also-serves the purpose of maintaining the flangeportion 43 tightly against the nuts 35 or against the lock washers tothus hold the bolts .30 firmly in'place. 1 It will be noted thatclearance is provided between the opposite sides of the portion 38 andthe inner side walls or" the housing portion 42, wherefore the portion38 of the clip or lug may assume different angular positions relative tothe switch point and to the connecting or se curing member when theswitch point is moved to-or from closed or open position, it being notedthat. the flange portion 43 will remain tightly bolted to the switchpoint at all times.

- In both of the forms of construction embodying the invention and whichhave been described herein for purposes of illustration it will beobserved that there are no pin and socket connec.

tions wherein-the pins may be sheared or bent during the use of theclips or lugs and during the throwing of the switch points. Thereforethe life of the clips or lugs is materially increased and themaintenance of the switch is greatly facilitated. It will also have beennoted from the foregoing detailed description that devices embodying theinvention adequately and fully attain the objects hereinbeforeenumerated and provide the desired advantages.

Although several forms of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptibleof various modifications and adaptations within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Means for connecting a switch rod to a switch point comprising aswitch clip or lug having a portion secured to the switch rod and asecond portion rigidly connected to said first portion and having asurface part contacting and movably bearing against a surface of theswitch point, and means operatively associated with and movable relativeto said second portion and operatively connecting said second portion tothe switch point to have movement relative thereto whereby said surfacepart may have relative angular contacting and bearing movement on saidsurface of the switch point and including through which the boltsextend.

bolts extending through and spaced;-longitudinally of the switch point,resilient means abutting against said second portion to maintain saidsurface part thereof in tensioned engagement with said switch pointsurface, and means through which said bolts extend and having anabutting part engaging said resilient means and movable relative to saidsecond portion, and means carried by said bolts in predeterminedposition thereon and engaging the said means 2. Means for connecting aswitch rod to a.

switch point as defined in claim 1 and wherein said surface part of saidsecond portion is curved and rocks on said switch point surface in thelongitudinal direction of the switch point. 3. Means for connecting aswitch rod to, a switch point comprising a switch clip or lug having aportion secured to the switch rod and a second portion rigidly connectedto said first portion and extending longitudinally of the switch pointand contacting and movably bearing against a surface of the switchpoint, bolts spaced longitudinally of the switch point and extendingtherethrough and through said second portion, members carried by saidbolts in fixed predetermined position thereon and spaced from saidsecond portion, and resilient means interposed between said members andsaid second portion and acting to maintain said second portion intensioned engagement with said switch point surface but allowingrelative angular movement between said second portion and said switchpoint surface.

4. Means for connecting a switch rod to a switch point as defined inclaim 3 and wherein said second portion has its surface which contactsand bears against a surface of the switch point curved in thelongitudinal direction with respect to said switch point wherefore saidsecond portion may have rocking movement relative to said switch point.

5. Means for connecting a switch rod to a switch point as defined inclaim 3 and wherein spacer sleeves are movably mounted on said boltsintermediate said members and said second portion while said resilientmeans are coil springs surrounding said sleeves and abutting said sec-83 ond portion and a flange. formed on .said sleeves.

6..Meansfor connecting a switch rod to a switch point comprising aswitch clip or lug'having a portion connectedto the switch rod and asecond portion rigidly connected with the first portion and having asurface contacting and movably bearing against a surface of the switchpoint, said second portion being provided with a recess, resilient meansmounted in said recess, and a securing member having a housing portionembracing said second portion and movable relatively thereto and formingan abutment for said resilient means, said securing member havinzflanges extending longitudinally of the switch point and in contacttherewith, bolts extending through said switch point and said flanges,and means carried by said'boltsengaging said flanges to prevent movementof said iianges relative to said switch point.

7. Means for connecting a switch rod' to a. switch point as defined inclaim 6 and wherein the surface of said second portion which movablybears against asurface of the switch point is a curved surface and therelative movement be-' tween the switch point and said second portion isa rocking movement.

GEORGE ARNOLD. HARRY A. SCHULTZ. HOWARD I. PRENTICEJ REFERENCES CITEDThe following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 517,379 Elliot;- Mar. '27, 18941,517,134 Wade Nov. 25, 1924 1,861,? 12 Morrison June 7, 1932 2,099,559Eastburn et a1. Nov. 16, 1937 2,155,820 Eastburn et a1. Apr. 25, 19392,208,449 Bone July 16, 1940 2,213,500 Mock Sept. 3, 1940 2,316,312 BoneApr. 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 196,526 SwitzerlandJune 17, 1937 345,786 Great Britain Nov. 22, 1930

